Aldo Velani Barolo Sandblasted Pear Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

Aldo Velani pipes are made by Cesare Barontini at the latter’s factory in Italy. Originally, Aldo Velani was conceived by Mastercraft to be a new Italian make for the American market, as all of Mastercraft’s other pipes at the time were of English or French origin. Mastercraft partnered with Barontini, and thus the Aldo Velani make was born. More recently, Aldo Velani was acquired by Mitchell Thomas, with production – still by Barontini – recommencing after 2008.

This particular Aldo Velani is a curious take on the traditional French pear shape. Curious partly because it’s not a shape I see often from Italian makes, and partly because it it combines the pear’s typical bowl shape with an overall form more common to the bent Rhodesian. It’s an enjoyable synthesis, complemented by a reserved, grayish brown sandblast finish.

This Aldo Velani is unsmoked, with an original bowl coating.

 

Details:

Length: 5.5″ / 139.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.74 / 18.79mm

Bowl Depth: 1.38″ / 35.05mm

Weight: 1.6oz / 48g